Nutevio Score
6.5Ⓝ
- IMDb
- 6.6
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 65%
- Metacritic
- 64
James Parker and Harry Holt are on an expedition in Africa in search of the elephant burial grounds that will provide enough ivory to make them rich. Parker's beautiful daughter Jane arrives unexpectedly to join them. Jane is terrified when Tarzan and his ape friends abduct her, but when she returns to her father's expedition she has second thoughts about leaving Tarzan.
Imported record — imported from the Nutevio library and placed by ranking signal. A Nutevio editorial verdict has not been written for this entry yet.
The number one — extended editorial
Legacy
Tarzan the Ape Man (1932) is the entry we would put first for anyone coming straight from Tarzan (Johnny Weissmuller) Collection. It picks up the same characters and the same central problem, so nothing about it feels like a detour.
Cultural impact
It also works as a standalone evening. 100 minutes, no homework required beyond the film you have just watched, and it resolves its own story rather than parking it for a sequel.
W.S. Van Dyke on the material
W.S. Van Dyke treats the material as if the audience is already paying attention, which is the whole trick. Nothing is repeated for the slow row at the back, and that trust is what makes the ending land.
Awards summary
No Academy Awards on record for this title — its standing here comes from how well it holds up, not from a ceremony.
Start here — everything else in this guide reads more clearly once you have seen it.
Perfect for
- Fans of adventure filmmaking
- W.S. Van Dyke admirers
- Classic-cinema viewers building a foundation
- First-timers looking for the essential entry point
Skip if
- You are looking for something light
Best watched
An unhurried evening with no second screen.
Editor's note
“I have shown Tarzan the Ape Man to people who insisted they did not like adventure films. It has never once failed. That is the closest thing to proof a ranking like this can offer.”
